Eugene w



NQMOaeL 2 sheets-shawl. E. W. APPLEGATE.

DETONATING AND vIsqAL SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

n Patented Nov, 4, 1884.

U Inrwztar N. PEIEHB, Fhulu-Lilhngraplwr. Wzehinghw. D. C

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

E. W. APPLEGATE. DETONATING AND VISUAL SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

Patented NOV. 4,1884.

N. PETERS, Pholo-Lilhograplm, wzminman. IJ.C

Nrrnn Bra'rns DETONATBNG AND VISUAL SIGNAL FOR RAlLWAYS.

:BPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,517, datedNovember 4%, 1884. Application filed November w, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EUGENE W. APPLE- GATE, acitizen of the United States, residing at WVashington, in the Districtof Columbia, have made certain new andcuseful Improvements in ElectricDetonating and Visual Signals for Railways, of which the following is aspecification.

My present invention relates to devices for giving signals torailroad-trains to indicate that'the track is clear, or that it isobstructed by a misplaced switch, a shunted car, or other impediment orobstacle. I apply my devices more especially to switches; but they areapplicable to draw-bridges or any other part of a track, and may be usedwith advantage 011 block systems. Great certainty is insured andcomplete protection given to trains approaching from either direction.

In an application filed by me in the United States Patent Oflice onNovember 10, 1883, I have shown and described a signal to warnapproaching trains of any trouble existing at a switch. I may use thedevices there shown in connection with some or all of the devices whichform the subjectmatter of this application.

The principal part of my present inven ion consists in a mechanismwhereby I am enabled to place a torpedo upon a railroad=rail,in case aswitch or draw-bridge is open or any other obstacle is upon the track atthese points. My device for doing this work consists, essentially, of arevolving set of arms, which may be caused to turn out and place thetorpedoes, which they hold upon the rail of a railroadtrack when thereis danger ahead, and may be, and are, withdrawn when the obstruction isremoved and safety prevails. In connection with the torpedo-box Iarrange a visual signal, constructed and combined with said box in sucha manner as to be displayed when a torpedo is on the track, and thusform a double alarm to the train in case of danger, and when the torpedois withdrawn the visual signal will be restored to a condition toindicate safety. To make the signal complete and renderaccident totrains approaching from either direction impossible, I place a signal ata distance from each end of a switch or siding,

and employ only a single battery, which is located at the depot or othercentral point.

This battery begins and terminates with the same polarity, and wiresfrom each end run in opposite directions to the signals. The center ofthe battery has a plate of opposite polarity to the end plates,connected by wires running in opposite directions to the switches ateach end of the siding. Thus a circuit can be had from either switch toboth signals from the one battery.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, andillustrate what I consider the best means of carrying out my invention.

Figure 1 is a diagram of the switches, battery, and connections. Fig. 2is a plan of the torpedo device; Fig. 3, a plan of modified form ofsame. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the torpedo box; Fig. 5, a detailshowing the falling door; Fig. 6, a detail of torpedo-carrying arm; Fig.7 ,a detail of appliance for draw-bridges, &c. Fig. 8 is a plan view ofa modification of the means for carrying the pivoted arms.

' Similar letters'of reference indicate corresponding parts whereverthey occur.

I will first describe the means for setting two signals by circuits fromthe same battery. It will be understood that this part of my inventionmay be used with any suitable signal, and eminently with that shown anddescribed in my application of November 10, 1883, above referred to, aswell as with the particular devices hereinafter set forth.

A is the battery, B B are the lines connecting its ends to thesignal-boxes, and B B the lines connecting its center plate to theswitches at each end of the siding. tery begins and terminates with anegative pole or plate, and the center plate, A, to which the lines B Bare attached, is positive. The switchis provided with a contact-plate,G, alongside of it, which is similar in construction and function tothat employed in my application above referred to. It is connected toground,and is caused to connect ground to line B when any weight isplaced upon it-as, for instance, the switch-rail or a car run off thesiding when the switch is closed. The

first one or several rails of the siding may be insulated, as describedin said previous application, or they may have contact-pieces, similarto 0, placed alongside of them, to be pressed down when the tread of thewheel comes upon them; Thus it will be seen that As shown, the bat- Ithe line B is grounded either by a misplaced switch, a car run off thesiding upon the plate 0,0r projecting so far as to be in the way of apassing train. at both ends of the siding, either end will be groundedby the mishaps above referred to. Now,when either end is so affected asto give ground to the line B,a current is created from central point, asthe depot, along the siding.

The signal employed in this invention consists of a torpedo and a visualsignal; but either maybe employed without the other, or they may becombined to operate together, as hereinafter set forth.

As already stated, I have perfected an automatic device for placing thetorpedoes upon the rail when danger is indicated. This is done in such amanner as that one torpedo is set for every danger-signal, and iswithdrawn when the danger is removed, and at the next danger-signal afresh torpedo is set, so that if the previous one shall have beenrendered non-explosive by dampness the new one will not be open to-thisobjection. If while the torpedo is set a train comes, it. will beexploded, and then .if the danger is removed the shell will be removed,so that the track is always clear and ready for a torpedo. The torpedoesmarked Z are set in arms D, which are pivoted on the rotating disk oranalogous part E. The arms are each provided with a spring, whichretracts and holds them in a position to allow the revolution of thepart E within the box F. 'Upon the same shaft with the disk E is asmaller disk, G, which has peripheral projections 9, corresponding innumber to the number of torpedo-carrying arms. Beneath the disk E, onits shaft E, is a pinion, H, which gears into another pinion, H,

'on a horizontal shaft, 11*, on which is placed a drum, I, provided witha cord and weight, I. The weight is of proper weight or size toinsure'the certain action of the part. It is wound up in any convenientmanner. Against the projections g a hook, j, on the armature J rests,and holds the disks E and G against the action of the weight when thearmature is repelled from the magnet or forcibly retracted by the springj,- but when the magnet M is excited by the passage of a current ofelectricity the armature J will be caused to release the engagement of jand g, and the force of the weight I, through the gearing IIH, willrotate the disks G and E, and they would continue to rotate as long asthe current continued, but for the devices which project the torpedoupon the track, which will now be The appliances being the same.

described. For this purpose (placing the torpedo upon the rail) I mayemploy either of two constructions, both of which are alike in principleand in the essentials of construction, but differ in minor details, aswill be seen.

In the form shown in Fig. 2 I employ asecond magnet, M, which is incircuit withmagnet M, and will be energized in conjunction therewith.This magnet M is provided with an armature, N, having a pin, a, whichlies under the disk E and out of contact therewith when the magnet isinert, (as the armature is retracted by the spring n;) but when themagnet is energized the pin a on the armature N is caused to bearagainst the under side of the disk E. At the same time the disk will berotated by the withdrawal of the hook 9' from on the rail, to beexploded by a passing train.

The pin a reaching the end 6 of the slotewill overcome the action of theweight I and stop the disk. As soon as the circuit is opened again, thespring at will withdraw the pin a,

' contact with the projection g, consequent upon and the action of theweight will again cause the disk to revolve; but the armature J, beingretracted by spring j when the circuit is opened, will protrude its noseor hook j into the path of the projection g and prevent the furtherrevolution of the disk; but a little time is al- 1 lowed between-thewithdrawal of pin a and the engagement of parts j and g to allow thewheel E to revolve sufficiently to turn the slot 6 off from the pin a,and thus obviate the possibility of the pin again catching in the sameslot. This is accomplished by setting the projection 9 upon the disk Gin such positions as that when the disk E is stopped by the protrudingpin n a small distance shall exist between the hook j and the projectiong, as shown in Fig. 2. This small distance also insures that when thecurrent is cut off the hook j shall get properly back into line forengagement with projection 9 before the disk G shall have rotated so faras to take the face of the projection 9 beyond the point of the hook j.Certainty of action is insured in this way. As soon as the pin a iswithdrawn so as to come below the under edge of the arm D, the spring Dwill restore the arm to its normal position for revolution within thebox F. This will be done whether the torpedo has been exploded or not.The torpedo is held in the end of the arm D by means of apinching-screw, D which takes hold of the tin or other tag or tail, 2,of the torpedo Z, and the torpedo will be with drawn with the armwhether it be exploded or not, and thus the track will be kept clear forthe succeeding torpedo.

In the form of torpedo-placer seen in Fig. 3 I employ only one magnet M,and dispense with the segmental slots 6. provided with an extension, J,which has a beveled end, j which moves back and forth under the lever N,which I have here substituted for the armature N,before used. The pin aprojects downward from the lever N, which lies over the disk E, and thepin a is held out of contact with the arm D by the spring a. When themagnet M is energized, the bevel j projects under the end of the le verN and throws the pin a down into the path of the arm D, and therevolution of the disk E will cause the arm D to be thrown out to placethe torpedo upon the track, as before. The movement of the disk isstopped by the arm D coming in contact with the pin K on the diskE,where it will be held until the pin a is withdrawn from arm D. Thedisk E may be replaced by arms radiating from the shaft E, on which thetorpedo-carrying arms are placed, instead of upon the disk, as shown inFig. 8, Sheet 1. The disk G may be stopped by means of a second hookoperated by the armature J. This is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,where J represents the hook pivoted at to any suitable fixed point orsupport,

and at is pivoted and connected to arma-' ture J, so that it will bepushed in when hook j is withdrawn and withdrawn when hook j is pushedin.

In order to render the device capable of r withstanding shocks, thetailz of the torpedo may be made long enough to allow the lateral motionof the torpedo to be taken up by the bending of said tail; or the arm Dmay be made extensible and compressible, and the tail 2 only relied uponto take the vertical strain. To thus render the arm adjustable, Iprovide at some convenient pointin its length between the torpedo endand the pivot a rod, (1 which is held in the two parts of the rod byheads within the said rods, and the parts of the arm are held expandedby a spiral spring, (2", surrounding rod (1 This gives capacity forbeing compressed by the twisting and jamming occasioned by a train, andprevents any shock being transmitted to the device beyond the shortportion of arm outside the rod (1 The entire device is incased in thebox F,

which is provided in front with the door F, hinged on its lower edge,andprovided with a gentle spring, f, for closing it. The force of thetorpedo-arm,as it is projected outward by contact with the pin a, willbe sufficient to knock the door down and hold it down aslong as the armis extended. WVhen the door F is knocked down, it lies over against theside of the rail, as shown in Fig. 5, and thus affords a means forguiding the torpedo properlyupon the rail.

In connection with the torpedosignal I ar- The armature J' is' range avisual signal operated in conjunction therewith. This is shown in Fig.4:. A cord, 0, is secured to the door F, and, running over pulleys 1) p,is attached to one end, P, of a pivoted signal, P. This visual signal Pis placed in a small box, F set upon box F, which is provided with alamp, Q. The signal P is of colored glass, and when it covers the faceof the lamp Q danger will be indicated. This signal will cover the lampat the same time that the torpedo is placed upon the track-rail. Thetorpedo carrying arm D, being thrust out to place the torpedo on therail,knocks the door F down, by the falling of which the cord 0 is drawnand caused to depress the end or arm I and elevate the signal over thelamp Q, and thus indicate danger in this manner. The colored glass orsignal I will remain displayed as long as the torpedo-carryingarm Dholds the torpedo on the rail, which, as before seen, will be as long asthe cause of the danger remains. As soon as the track is cleared and thearm D swings back into the box the door F will be closed by the springf, aided by a draw upon the cord 0, which is occasioned by theovcrbalanced signal P causing the end P to be thrown up. This will bringthe door F to a closed position, and will at the sametime prevent thepossibility of the cord 0 being caught and held by the door coming shutfaster than said cord is taken up. The end P is set at an angle to theopposite end of the rod which holds the signal P in order to insure itsproper action. If it were in right line therewith when the signal isupright, there would be less tendency to resume its safety position.

The device I use on drawbridges consists of the contact-points R It,insulated from each other, and connected to battery and torpedo box orsignal, as shown in Fig. '7. The lower point, It, is set upon the springS, which bears against a portion of the draw-bridge T when the latter isin place, and is thereby held so as to disconnect the points RR; butwhen the draw-bridge is notin place the spring S throws the points R Rtogether and creates a circuit through torpedo-box, which willcause thesignal to be given and atorpedo placed upon the rail.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is i 1. A revolublepivoiel arm for carrying a torpedo, in combination with an armature andIIO magnet arranged to stop the revolution of the arm and causeit toplace atorpedo in position for explosion when the magnet is energized,as set forth.

2. A series of torpedo-carrying arms pivoted upon a revoluble frame ordisk, in combination with said frame or disk, and a magnet and armatureprovided with a pin to engage with the arms and cause them to place atorpedo in position for explosion, as set forth.

3. A series of torpedo-carrying arms pivoted upon a revoluble disk orframe, in eombination with said disk or frame, which is provided" ingthe arm in this position until the currentis broken.

4. In a device for placing torpedoes, a series of torpedo-placing armspivoted upon a revoluble frame, or disk, in combination with said frameor disk, and lugs or projections g, corresponding in number with thepivoted arms, an armature operated to engage said projections, andthereby hold the frame or disk while there is no current,and release thesame when there is a current, asset forth, and means for causing thepivoted arms to place a torpedo in position for explosion.

5. The combination, with the disk or frame E, the arm or arms D, pivotedthereon, and a spring, D, for each arm D, to keep it withdrawn, of thearmature and magnet to overcome the action of the spring and protrudethe arm, substantially as set forth.

truding it to place a torpedo, of the door f, hinged at its base andadapted to be thrown down by the arm and to lie flush with and guide thetorpedo into position upon the rail, as set forth.

7. The combination, with a torpedo-carrying arm, means for operating it,and a door which is thrown down by said arm, of a signal, I? P, andconnecting-cord O, secured at one end to the signal P I and at the otherto the door, whereby the throwing down of the door actuates the signal PP, as set forth.

8. A battery beginning and terminating with the same polarity, saidpoles being connecter to separate signals, and connections from pointson a railroad affixed to a plate of opposite polarity in the center ofthe battery, whereby an interference at any point so connected willcause both signals to be given, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EUGENE NV. APPLEGATE.

'Witnesses:

I. N. KALB, Win HELMIOK.

